N.J. Senate approves exemptions to handgun limit

TRENTON -- The Senate gave final approval today to amending a controversial law limiting handgun purchases to one every 30 days.

One bill (S-3104) would allow need-based exemptions to the one-handgun-a-month requirement, allowing people who want to buy multiple handguns from an estate, for a collection or for competitive shooting to apply to the State Police for the ability to buy numerous weapons.

Another bill (S-3068) would exempt licensed retailers from the limit. It also would clarify that registered gun wholesalers and manufacturers are not held to the one-a-month limit.

The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, was intended to thwart straw purchasers, who obtain multiple permits to buy guns and sell them on the streets, but opponents argued it would penalize law-abiding citizens.